Amsterdam - hotels?

[Claire L]

Thinking about booking a weekend break but would like some hotel recommendations, also how easy is to get from the airport to the city centre?

Claire

 

[Goofyish]

To get from Schiphol (airport) to Amsterdam is very easy.

When you come out of the baggage claim you enter the Schiphol Plaza (there are shops and restaurants there). Also is the access to trains - Dutch railway is called NS (platforms are below the airport).

Go to the train ticket windows and ask for a single to Amsterdam Central (or Amsterdam CS). They all speak good English so you will have no problems asking for your ticket

Single 2nd class ticket is around €3.60 plus €0.50 transaction fee. The journey to Amsterdam CS takes 15 minutes.
The ticket office person will tell you the next train time and the platform if you ask them or you can just check on one of the time table boards.
Should be a train every 5 mins. approx.

You can also check on the NS website for train times and prices:

http://www.ns.nl/servlet/Satellite?...rplus2stap&action=js1&p=1083234338201&lang=en



I've used this website to book hotels in Holland:

http://www.hotels.nl/

You can get some good deals.

Last time I stayed in Amsterdam I stayed at the Barbizon Palace, it's a bit pricey but just across the road from the station.

A work colleague has always stayed at the Victoria Hotel - also oposite the station.

 

[jjpenguin]

As goofyish said it's very easy to get to the Center of Amsterdam from the airport. There are also yellow kiosks for train tickets which will save you the transaction fee.

If you go to the ticket office it could be handy to get a "strippenkaart". This is a ticket for the trams/busses/metro in Amsterdam. You stamp off the amount of zones you need per person. Although Amsterdam isn't that big you might want to use the tram instead of walking all the time.

there are a ton of hotels in amsterdam, ranging from grubby hostels to 5 star boutique. Just check the location, it's handy to be fairly central.

 

[Claire L]

Thank you for the replies. Having looked at hotels quite fancy the Crowne Plaza, is that in a good location?

Claire

 

[jjpenguin]

That's an excellent location. Near enough to the center of town and the station but not on the main street (which can be very rowdy at times)

One of the trams goes past the front door ( offhand i'd say it's the one to the flower market and the rijksmuseum)

 

[Claire L]

Thanks for that always good to have information from someone local.

Claire

 

[wayneg]

We been to Amsterdam about 12 times in the past 6 years, love it for a weekend away.
Stayed at (Best 1st, IMO) Krasnapolsky, Swiss Hotel, Victoria, Die Port Van Cleve, Jolly Carlton, Doelen, Terminus & Eden

Stayed at Krasnapolsky 3 or 4 times its right on Dam square.
Above were all as a family, also stayed at The Renaissance for a stag weekend.
As others have said its easy to get there, probably the easiest city in the world. We always do train but some hotels also have shuttles and taxis are not that expensive, always a line of Mercs outside airport if you want the luxury.
If you look at DS website and click on Holidays it lists when we stayed in them all www.disneymad.co.nr

I use these sites for Amsterdam.
www.booking.com
www.easytobook.com
www.1st-hotels-amsterdam.com
www.hotels.nl